Family

On September 10, the world commemorated World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD). The event, usually organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), is generally meant to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented. Death. We don’t like to discuss it in Kenya. Suicide, even less but I feel compelled to write about a subject deemed taboo or emasculating for people to talk about.

I say that primarily because it is about time attention is shed on the subject. Suicide is a growing problem worldwide. The rate has steadily increased over the past ten years and more people are committing suicide every other day. In fact, of the major leading causes of death globally, suicide is the only one steadily increasing in its rate.

Yet, it is still not discussed. This is evident when the death of a relative as a result of suicide is talked about in hushed tones. Generally, the acknowledgement of suicide has always been shadowed with much complexity. Maybe it is because it remains extraordinarily painful to know that someone you love took his or her own life. Feelings of guilt, sadness and anger persist long after the death.

There remains a great deal of shame associated with suicide. But it is vital to work to destigmatise suicide so that suicidal individuals can feel more comfortable to reach out for help and so that families and friends who have lost someone to suicide do not have to endure the pain of the death alone braving the emotional roller coaster.

“It is also imperative that as a country, we invest in enriching researching on the causes and preventive measures of suicidal tendencies”

It is also important to remember that in life we can have everything we have ever wanted — success, love, even happiness. But people who struggle with depression, more often than not, they are in a battle to keep their head up. Because the struggle is not at their jobs, the struggle is not with their friends or their families.

The struggle is inside them and it just does not go away without a little grit. Also, religious conviction and participation in religious activities can also assist in curbing or preventing poor mental health that includes depression.

Let us resolve in unison to support family members or friends going through depression. Let us decide to cause all that any of us can do, is keep striving to be that better person. The me that feels the weight of my own thoughts but keeps going anyway, keeps pushing my whole self towards being a better person.

No matter how long that struggle takes, if we can devote our lives to striving to be better people it is never going to be a wasted life. For anyone going through depression please keep fighting and seek support from family and friends. Life can get better if only you keep pushing a little longer.

It is also imperative that as a country, resources are invested in researching causes and preventive measures of suicide, especially rampant among citizens in their productive age.

I have seen couples live under the same roof but emotionally worlds apart, each absorbed in their work or dealings that they barely acknowledge one another

I cannot fathom the emotional devastation that gripped those who visited Chiromo mortuary to identify bodies of their kin following the recent terrorist attack on Garissa university that left more than 140 dead and scores missing.

It was a tragedy that sparked reactions of anger, pain and fear. We vented the feelings through the media, phone calls and protests.

We condemned the government for doing so little to save the innocent souls. We lashed at leaders for caring only for their security. We blamed Garissa residents for working in cahoot with Al Shabaab terror group. All these actions did not change the fact that we lost lives.

May the innocent souls rest in peace.

Death is cruel. No one word can express the pain nor the agony shared.

The images that we saw on national television were heart-rending: A father wailing, wrenched in the hopelessness and helplessness of losing a loved one. Another narrating how she had invested in their daughter? Can it get worse?

Should death be the awakening call to cherish every moment with our loved ones.Should death trigger the deep sorrow and grief? Should we seek strength in warm memories? Memories that will seldom fill the void of a deep desperate need of the longing of all yesterdays?

Can we choose to be different in a modern world where many distractions burden our minds? Distractions that keep our minds away from what needs to be done or it will be burying the head in the sand?

Ours is a world where television, radio and even jobs get in the way of quality time with family and friends.

It is easy to ignore those around us who need our attention, affection and companionship.I have seen couples live under the same roof but emotionally worlds apart, each absorbed in her work or dealings that they barely acknowledge one another.

Children are left at the mercies of house helps who could instil (im)morals that could impact on the young ones future.

We must learn to set aside time for our loved ones and to manage our time so as not to neglect the people and things that are important in our lives.

Enjoy the distractions but don’t let them be a hurdle or roadblock in life.Find time to spend with family and friends. Create time for yourself. Cherish every moment you can with those you love.

Life is a fragile affair, we are all dancing on the edge of a precipice a dizzy cliff so high we can not see the bottom.One by one we will all lose that we love most into the dark ravine.

This article was published on the April 11 2015 in People Daily Kenya http://bit.ly/1aQRQnF